Three pirate ships, flying their black flags, docked at the harbor and unleashed a volley of cannon fire toward the port.
"Captain! This raid's going to be a goldmine. There are tons of merchant ships here, and the port has zero defenses. We're going to be rich!" A pirate in a hood, gripping a bloodstained blade, called out.
"Kahahahaha! Boys, take the town! It's ours now!" the captain bellowed, brandishing a massive cleaver.
"Kill! Kill! The women and the treasure are mine!" another pirate shouted as the crew from all three ships stormed the port with greedy grins and wild eyes.
The townspeople, upon seeing the pirates, panicked. Some fled inland; others threw themselves into the sea in desperation.
"Help! Pirates have landed, run!"
"Out of my way!"
Screams and curses echoed as cannonballs flew overhead, crashing into buildings and igniting fires, turning the once-bustling port into chaos.
"Wahhhh!"
"Please help me!"
Amid the panic, a child stood frozen in fear. A dockworker cried out as a pirate stabbed him, sparking a new wave of hysteria.
People surged forward in blind panic, causing deadly stampedes. Ironically, more died fleeing than were actually killed by pirates.
"Hahaha! Looks like we cleared the dock for you, Captain!" the first mate chuckled.
BANG! The captain slapped him hard.
"Shut your mouth. I don't need your commentary," the captain growled, stepping forward arrogantly.
"I'm Alex Jesse, captain of the Bear Pirates! I've got a bounty of 43 million Berries! If you want to live, hand over your treasures!"
His voice boomed over the chaos. At over three meters tall, Alex Jesse towered over everyone. Silence fell as fear gripped the crowd.
Charlotte, just arriving at the scene, narrowed his eyes.
"Forty-three million... that's a big name," he muttered. He knew that in this timeline, the value of currency hadn't inflated yet, meaning this was no small fry.
Alex Jesse sneered as the crowd cowered. "Boys, ransack the town! Kill anyone who resists!"
"RAAAHH!" Over a hundred pirates surged into the town.
"Let me see you try!" Charlotte couldn't hold back any longer. From the rooftops, he sprang down, delivering a crushing double punch to the lead pirate.
"Huh? Who's this brat?" Alex Jesse scowled. "Khahahaha! What's this? A kid trying to play hero?"
The pirates burst into laughter.
Charlotte didn't respond. In an instant, he vanished and reappeared behind two more pirates.
BAM! BAM!
Both collapsed, coughing up blood.
"What?!" Alex Jesse's eyes widened. "Kill him! Get that brat!"
More than a hundred pirates swarmed Charlotte, guns and blades ready.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Gunshots rang out, but Charlotte evaded each bullet effortlessly, his Observation Haki (Kenbunshoku Haki) warning him in advance.
"Damn it! This kid's dangerous!" Jesse muttered.
Charlotte dove into the mob of pirates, his sword flashing. Limbs flew, blood sprayed, and screams filled the air.
Charlotte was calm, focused, relentless. With each kill, his excitement grew.
"Kill! Kill! KILL!" His eyes gleamed red, and blood coated his blade.
The pirates hesitated, afraid to approach.
But Charlotte was not waiting.
He charged again. One man versus an army, yet they fell like wheat before a scythe.
"Bastard! My crew!" Jesse raged. Years of recruiting, gone in minutes.
The townsfolk watched in awe and disbelief.
"Is that... is that Charlotte?!"
"What the hell is he?!"
Charlotte paused, raised his head, and howled to the sky.
An invisible shockwave exploded outward – Haoshoku Haki, Conqueror's Haki.
Pirates and civilians alike fainted instantly.
Alex Jesse staggered.
"H-he has Conqueror's Haki?! This brat?!"
Charlotte, eyes still burning, continued slashing down any pirates still breathing.
Ivan, arriving late, was hit by the wave of Haki. His knees buckled as he clung to a pillar.
"What... what's going on?" he gasped.
Through the smoke and blood, he saw it: his boss, Rockefeller Charlotte, stood alone. Around him, corpses.
Only one man remained facing him: Alex Jesse.
The pirate captain trembled.
Charlotte finished the last pirate with a clean slice. Blood sprayed.
Then he screamed again:
"AHAHAHAHAHA!"
A second wave of red lightning surged outward. Ivan collapsed.
Alex Jesse dropped to a crouch, bracing against the shock, his sword shaking in his hands.
Fear had overtaken him. The young warrior before him wasn't human.
He was a monster.
Rockefeller Charlotte had arrived.